The race to become Southampton's next manager appears to be hotting up. There are three clear favourites for the role, a couple who are being tentatively linked, and another whose odds are shortening rapidly.
The current interim manager, Tona Eckert, has put himself in contention for the permanent role with back-to-back wins against QPR and Middlesbrough. The 32-year-old German has an impressive pedigree having been assistant manager at both Genoa and Barnsley before taking the under-21 position at Southampton.
He has proven to have some tactical nouse too. His attention to detail with his two central midfielders' positioning on Saturday enabled both Tom Fellows and Ryan Manning to get into far more attacking positions.
Although Eckert is now the clear favourite for the permanent role, that may only be because he might continue as interim for an extended period. A continued run of good form could be enough for him to be installed permanently.
The worst available option to Johannes Spors
Gary O'Neil came in for some stick from fans on Saturday and he wasn't even at the game. The thought of O'Neil as permanent manager appeared to be too much for the Northam Stand to cope with and they let the board know in no uncertain terms.
Despite the passionate outcry from Saints fans opposing his appointment, O'Neil remains second favourite for the Saints job.
However, O'Neil has a terrible PPG ratio. At Molineux, he took charge of 63 matches with a PPG average of just 1.13 only marginally better than the luckless Will Still whose PPG average at Southampton was 0.92.
Saints fans can discount this unrealistic candidate
Another who is said to be in contention is former Celtic boss, Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers does have the pedigree and could be a good fit for Southampton. The issue with Rodgers might not be whether he is good enough for Southampton but more about would he consider the move.
Rodgers might consider himself to be above a move to St Mary's. He has managed Liverpool and Celtic so might not be inclined to drop down to the Championship. A move to the South Coast seems unlikely.
Probably the most interesting of the available managers who have been tentatively linked with the job is Michael Carrick. Carrick has a good, if not spectacular, record in the Championship and is probably waiting for the right job to come up. The Southampton job seems ideally suited.
This detail-orientated manager could be great
Carlos Corberan is becoming a top candidate for the Saints job and support for him is gathering momentum. He has two obvious advantages over most of the other candidates.
Firstly, Corberan has managed in the Championship with great success. When he left Albion for Valencia, he did so with the baggies in seventh place having just beaten Bristol City 2-0 at the Hawthorns.
Furthermore, Corberan knows how to get the most out of Southampton's Tom Fellows. When asked about his manager at Albion, Fellows told skysports.com, "He [Corberan] gave me my opportunity so obviously I'm really thankful for the chance to play and to prove I can perform at this level."
"He has helped me a lot. It's a lot of detail and a lot of stuff to take in, but you get used to it after a little bit.
"After a bit, it's like, if you didn't have that sort of detail, it would be more difficult, you know.
Fellows form under Corberan earned the Saints winger an under-21 call-up during which he scored his first goal for the young lions. If there's anybody on the list of candidates that Fellows would like to see in the dugout after the international break, it would be Carlos Corberan.
But Southampton have their work cut-out if they are to attract Corberan. The Spaniard has been linked to Middlesbrough who would be a considerable draw given their position in the table.
For the time being, Corberan remains Valencia boss and has no reported interest in giving up on his ambitions in Spain. In a recent press conference he was reported as saying, "We’re going to give it our all to reverse this situation because nothing hurts us more than seeing Valencia like this."
Whoever comes in at Southampton, Sport Republic will know that they have to get the right person. Another error of judgement could cost them any last remaining shreds of support from the Southampton fans.